Wrong sb.²

Forms: α. 1–5, Sc. and north. dial. 6– wrang (4 vrang, 9 north. dial. wrank), 4–5, Sc. 6 wrange. β. 3– wrong (5 worng), 4–6 wronge (5 wronke, 6 wrongue, 7 ronge), 5 wrunge. [Substantival use of WRONG a.]

  I.  1. That which is morally unjust, unfair, amiss or improper; the opposite of right or justice; the negation of equity, goodness or rectitude. (Freq. contrasted with right.)

a. 1100.  Wulfstan’s Hom., xlii. 203. Þa unrihtdeman, ðe … wendaþ wrang to rihte and riht to wrange.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 193. Talewise men þe … maken wrong to rihte, and riht to wronge.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 877. If riht goþ forþ & a back wrong.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4381. For wrong ne lefte he nyȝt ne day.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 177. Degradyt syne wes he Off honour … Quhethir it wes throuch wrang or rycht, God wat it.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 245. I wolle … fyȝte for þe qwene with whome þat wronge seythe.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Wolf & Lamb, 79. Quhar wrang and reif suld dwell in propertie.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 65. They put no difference betuix wrang and right.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. iv. 1. For to maister wrong and puissant pride.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 116. Right and wrong, (Betweene whose endlesse iarre, Iustice recides).

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 662. One,… eminent In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong.

1737.  [see RIGHT sb.¹ 3].

1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 149. Without the means of knowing right from wrong.

1809–10.  Coleridge, Friend (1865), 72. The abandonment of all principle of right enables the soul to choose and act upon a principle of wrong.

1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz, 35. Why are right and wrong at strife?

  Personif.  1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 61. A wiht þat wrong is i-hote, Fader of Falsness.

c. 1460.  Wisdom, 728, in Macro Plays, 59. Let se fyrst, Wronge & Sleyght! Dobullnes & Falsnes, schew yowur myght!

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 166. But Wrong a mightie monster is.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Sonn., Wks. 1922, II. 321. For Love is dead: Sir wrong his tombe ordaineth.

1847.  J. C. Mangan, Poems (1903), 84. It foretold fair Freedom’s triumph, and the doom of Wrong.

  † b.  The fact or position of being in the wrong (cf. 8 a). Chiefly in the phr. to have wrong (cf. Fr. avoir tort). Obs.

a. 1300.  in Map’s Poems (Camden), 335. Ic seyȝe, gas[t], thouȝ hast wrong … Al þe wyt on me to leye.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1282. Whan I had wrong and she ryght She wolde … For-yeve me.

1420–2.  Lydg., Thebes, II. 1811. But he hadde wronge, Which thoght … the ȝeer was wonder longe Of his Exil.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Alfonse, xii. I … thanke yow gretely. For ryght ye haue and I grete wronge.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xv. (1592), 241. But let Aristotle alone (for he hath wrong).

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 121. Sche wil be in wrang to her housband, gif that he knaweng, sche offend.

1604.  T. Wright, Passions (1620), 117. Whether you have right or wrong, I knowe you must have the last word.

  c.  Deviation from fact, accuracy or correct standard; incorrectness, error.

c. 1620.  A. Hume, Brit. Tongue, 2. To command … the schooles to teach the future age right and wrang.

1796.  Burke, Regic. Peace, ii. (1892), 126. Whether … there was some mixture of right and wrong in their reasoning.

  2.  Unjust action or conduct; evil or damage inflicted or received; unfair or inequitable treatment of another or others; injustice, unfairness.

  α.  12[?].  [see β].

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxv. 279. Ihesus. I wyrk no wrang, that shall thou wytt.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 224. It slakis ire off wrang thai suld radres.

c. 1520.  M. Nisbet, N. Test. (S.T.S.), II. 71. Christ heir, in repreifing wrange, did nocht resist it with wyolence.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xiii. 71. Wickit men delytis ay in to wrang.

a. 1598.  D. Fergusson, Sc. Prov. (S.T.S.), 108. Wrang hes nea warrand.

17[?].  Ramsay, Address to Town Council, i. I’ve suffer’d muckle wrang.

  β.  a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 168 (Lamb. MS.). Ne scal him [sc. God] na mon mene þer of strengþe ne of wronge [Egerton MS. wrange].

c. 1300.  Havelok, 72. To wronge micht him no man bringe, Ne for siluer, ne for gold.

a. 1310.  in Wright, Lyric P., xxv. 68. Ihesu, for love thou tholedest wrong.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 117. Alle þat wrong worchen, wende þei schulen After heore deþ-day [etc.].

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 15922 (Trin.). Ȝe bere me wrong on honde.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 534. Wrongs, a-ȝen truthe and ryghtewysnesse,… injuria.

a. 1500.  Gest Robin Hood, xciv. in Child, Ball., III. 61. The hye iustyce and many mo Had take in to theyr honde Holy all the knyghtes det, To put that knyght to wronge.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 301. The false accusacyon & testimonyes of y^e iewes was so euydent & playne wronge.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 18. Ne ought he car’d, whom he endamaged By tortious wrong.

1611.  Bible, Job xix. 7. Behold, I cry out of wrong [marg. or, violence], but I am not heard.

1624.  Wotton, Archit., 111. Which mention … I haue willingly made of his Name,… with much wrong to his other vertues.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 76. Expos’d To daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong.

1749.  Melmoth, Fitzosb. Lett., lxxii. Ye plaintive crew, that suffer wrong.

1793.  R. Gray, Poems, 126. He doth conceive … of high affront And mighty wrong committed.

1846.  Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. vii. 131. One who never sees wrong, without the noble resolution to revenge it.

1874.  J. Sully, Sensation & Intuition, 154. A man who never knows the deep anguish of conscious wrong until [etc.].

  b.  Law. Violation, transgression or infringement of law; invasion of right to the damage or prejudice of another or others: injury, harm, mischief. In early use Sc.

12[?].  [see THWERT-NAY].

1318.  in Acts Parlt. Scotl., I. (1844), 471/1. Torth & noun raysoun quod dicitur wrang & unlaw. Ibid. (a. 1400), 647/1. Quoniam attachiamenta sunt principia et origo placitorum de wrang et unlaw.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. iv. 117. So justyce ys oppressyd … and wrong takyth place.

1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., etc., I. 95 b. Vnjustlie, and against the law, with wouch, wrang, and vnlaw.

1670.  Blount, Law Dict., Tort-feasor, a Doer of wrong, a Trespasser.

1875.  Maine, Hist. Inst., ii. 45. The ancient Irish Law of Civil Wrong.

  c.  To do (…) wrong, to act unjustly or unfairly (to a person or thing, or with dative).

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 798. Bimene we us, we hauen don wrong.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2683. He … broȝte vn-warnede on hem fiȝt; He hadden don egipte wrong.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 29084. Man dos to fasting mikel wrang.

c. 1330.  Spec. Gy Warw., 222. If man wole chese to don wrong.

1372.  in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 71. Þe child þouthte sche dide him wrong.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 126/2. Do wronge a-ȝene resone (P. ayenst reason or lawe), injurior, prejudico.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xxviii. (Arb.), 71. The lawe and right doth noman wrong.

1540–1.  Elyot, Image Gov., 28. That he whiche hath done wrong, be compelled to make restitution.

1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 87. Place doong heape a low … Where water all winter time did it such wrong.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 440. I feare you haue done your selfe some wrong.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., 102. As the King of England can doe no wrong, so neither can he doe right but … by his Courts.

1737.  Pope, Hor., Ep., II. ii. 12. To say too much, might do my honour wrong.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., xiii. By which she has done me great wrong.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., LII. ii. Thou canst not move me from thy side, Nor human frailty do me wrong.

  † d.  To have (…) wrong, to suffer injustice, prejudice or harm; to receive injury. Obs.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3077. ‘Hu! haue ȝe wrong,’ quad pharaon, ‘Ȝu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon.’

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9582. Quyte þe weyl oute of borghgang, Þat þou ne haue for hyt no wrang.

c. 1410.  Lantern of Light, 45. Glotenye … drowneþ þe wittis of þe peple, til þat þei be vnresonable & kunnen not knowe whanne þei han wrong.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, I. 5. Þogh þay haue moche wrong, þay may not gete amendes.

1509.  Coventry Leet Bk., 626. He had grete wrong in certeyn ffyldes … by the comens of Couentre.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 10. Suche as thinke they haue wronge at his hande.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 12. In their opinion he had wrong to be so charged.

[1821.  Scott, Kenilw., v. He thinks he hath wrong, and is not the mean hind that will sit down with it. Ibid. (1828), F. M. Perth, x. I own you have had some wrong.]

  3.  In various prepositional phrases: † a. With or mid (…) wrong, wrongly, wrongfully, unjustly. (Cf. 4.) Obs. [Cf. ON. með rǫngu wrongly.]

1124.  O. E. Chron., an. 1124. [They] sæidon þet se king heold his broðer Rotbert mid wrange on heftnunge.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 209 (Lamb. MS.). Þa þe ledden hore lif mid unriht and mid wrange.

c. 1290.  Beket, 839, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 130. Me þinchez with gret wrong þe chalangez þe king.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 110. Steuen … suore, Þat … Þe kyng, no non of his, suld chalange þat of fe, With wrong no with right.

c. 1400.  Brut, 257. Þe Kyngus person bare … þe blame, wiþ wrong.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xlii. (Arb.), 115. Suche false extorcionners … oppresse the poure peple wyth grete wronge.

a. 1500.  Gest Robin Hood, cclxviii. in Child, Ball., III. 69. There I holpe a pore yeman, With wronge was put behynde.

1598.  Yong, Diana, 27. Rather then blame discredit me,… Let me with wrong forgotten be.

  b.  In or by wrong. (Cf. 4 b.)

a. 1400.  Sir Degrev., 542. That y shalle faythly fyeght, Both in worng and in ryght.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 18. For mekenesse obteyneth more … than violence … can purchase or obtayne by right or wronge.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 42. His am I Atin, his in wrong and right. Ibid., vii. 30. None could weene Them to efforce by violence or wrong.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xxii. 13. Woe vnto him that buildeth … his chambers by wrong.

1855.  Tennyson, The Letters, 11. Then we met in wrath and wrong.

  † 4.  Claim, possession or seizure that is unjustifiable or unwarranted on legal or moral grounds. Esp. in phr. with or † mid (…) wrong. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 27300. For heo al mid wronge wilneden of ure londe.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2806. Þat þe swike Haues it [sc. the kingdom] halden with mikel wronge.

a. 1325.  MS. Rawl. B. 520, fol. 56 b. Ȝif þe Eir mid wronge vsurped þe seisine of Eldere þoru deseisine.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 209. And gyff that ony man thaim by Had ony thing that wes worthy,… With rycht or wrang it have wald thai.

c. 1410.  Lantern of Light, 45. Couetise of hem þat purchasen wiþ wrong her neiȝboris ground & her catel.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., II. 540. That … none other for hym or in his right, myght neuer clayme … ony thyng of right, or of clayme, or of wronge, in the forsaid acre of lond.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 12. Proud Lucifera … did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie Vpon the scepter.

  b.  In the phr. by, in, † o, or † of (…) wrong.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 28795. Vr lauerd … receues … nan Almus þat o [v.r. of] wrang es tan.

1528.  in Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 23. [He] hathe of his owne auctoryte and wronge enteryd into the premissis.

1548.  Elyot, Iure uel iniuria, by right or wronge.

1588.  Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 278. Riches, either miserably gotten or encreased by wrong. Ibid. (1594), Cornelia, V. 439. Must I liue to see great Pompeys house … Vsurpt in wrong by lawlesse Anthony?

1628.  Coke, On Litt., 181. Therefore no relation of an estate by wrong can helpe him.

1729.  Jacob, Law Dict., s.v. Right, An Estate gain’d by Wrong.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 141. The defendants had done nothing to vest the freehold in them, either by right or by wrong.

  5.  With possessive pron. or genitive: † a. Injustice, harm or evil inflicted upon another or others; wrong-doing. Obs.

c. 1275.  Duty of Christians, 59, in O. E. Misc., 143. We schule to criste grede, And bidde mylce of vre wrong.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6430. Now we þe executore haue mysseyd, And of hys wrong he haþ vpbreyd.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 76. More to wyte is her wrange, þen any wylle gentyl.

14[?].  in Acts Parlt. Scot., I. (1844), 352/2. Of a man grantand his awne wrang.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., XIII. 84. Gramerci, Lord, that list eek mortifie My wronge.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, I. i. 63. Sen Pallas mocht on Grekis tak sic wraik … for Aiax Oilus wrang?

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., xl. Loue knowes it is a greater griefe To beare loues wrong, then hates knowne iniury.

1631–2.  Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 168. He shall therefore pay 500^ll … and make recognition of his fault and wrong.

1642.  J. M[arsh], Argt. conc. Militia, 17. It is against the rule of Law, that any man should take advantage of his owne wrong.

  b.  Injury, hurt, harm or prejudice received or sustained by a person or persons. Also in phr. to or † in one’s (own) wrong.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 15. Ofte haf I wayted wyschande þat wele, Þat wont was whyle deuoyde my wrange.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, Prol. 13. Whom all þe londe loued,… And ros with him rapely to riȝtyn his wronge.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 2812. As me is wa for þi woȝe, & þi wrange bathe.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 57 b. It is not lawfull for anye Christian to reuenge his owne wronge.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. viii. 11. What meane ye thus vnwise Vpon your selues anothers wrong to wreake?

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., II. 229. That she, to her own wrong, and every other’s grief, Would needs be telling things exceeding all belief.

1656.  H. Phillips, Purch. Patt. (1676), 93. He will rebate in his own wrong.

1660.  Waller, To King on his Return, 62. Armies and fleets … redressed his wrong.

a. 1740.  Spotswood, in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., I. 204. Be cautious how you dispose of the profits of your parish; least you pay it in your own wrong.

a. 1768.  Secker, Serm. (1770), II. 364. The Abilities of the Man, that uses them to his Neighbour’s Wrong.

1822.  Shelley, Dirge, 8. Wail, for the world’s wrong! Ibid., Calderon’s Mag. Prodig., II. 139. My words … shook Heaven, Proclaiming vengeance, public as my wrong.

  fig.  1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Storm, iii. There it stands knocking, to thy musicks wrong, And drowns the song.

  6.  Physical hurt or harm caused to or sustained by some thing or person; treatment causing material injury or damage. (Cf. 11.) Now rare.

1382.  Wyclif, Acts xxvii. 10. With wrong and harm … of charge and schipp … bygynneth seiling for to be.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxxii. (Bodl. MS.). For þe more ese withstonding and putting of wronge and of hurting [of the marrow].

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., X. 12. In wanyng of Phebes be they toflonge, So may hit meest auayle and do leest wronge.

1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 32. Light ladder and long doth tree least wrong.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 39. Flaxe … the more wrong it suffereth, the better doth it prooue.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. iv. 5. There before them stood a Coffer strong,… But seeming to have suffred mickle wrong.

1602.  Chettle, Hoffman, IV. (1631), H 2 b. A powder … Being set on fire to suffocate each sence Without the sight of wound, or shew of wrong.

c. 1660.  in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 262. Small forts … to defend the merchants and their goods from wrong.

1726.  Pope, Odyss., XXI. 429. Lest time or worms had done the weapon [sc. a bow] wrong.

1873.  A. G. Murdoch, Lilts on Doric Lyre, 44.

  7.  The wrong, that which is wrong; the opposite of justice or equity; absence of right or fairness; unjust or wrongful action.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17458. Þof it neuer haf lasted sua lang, A-wai to wrenk he dos þe wrang.

c. 1330.  Spec. Gy de Warw., 749. Here ȝe muwen se þe wrong.

1388.  Wyclif, Acts vii. 24. Moises … dide veniaunce for hym that suffride the wronge.

1411.  26 Pol. Poems, 44. My swerd … Shal shede þe riȝt fro þe wrong.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, VI. xiv. 25. Brutus … can revenge the wrang in his cuntre.

1556.  Lauder, Tractate, 131. And ȝour fals glosing of the wrang, Sall nocht mak ȝow to rax heir lang.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 1030. Capacity not rais’d to apprehend Or value what is best In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., iv. If the Scottish have not had the right upon their side, they have … defended the wrong with the efforts of brave men.

1861.  Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Supplices, 337, note. If the wrong has been wholly on one side.

  8.  The fact or position of acting unjustly or indefensibly; the state of being wrong in respect of attitude, procedure or belief. (Cf. 1 b.) † a. In the phr. to have the wrong. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6029. I haue þe wrang, And al þis wrak on me es lang.

c. 1330.  Amis & Amil., 908. The steward was so strong, And hadde the right and he [= Amis] the wrong.

13[?].  Seuyn Sages (W.), 2900. Than sal thou thiseluen se Wha haue the wrang, the wife or he.

c. 1430, 1828.  [see RIGHT sb. 6 b].

  b.  In the phr. to be or put in the wrong.

a. 1400.  Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls), II. 795. Þou wolt … þi soule to helle bringe, Vor þou ert in þe wronke [v.r. wronge].

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xvii. 390. Ye knowe ye were in the wronge.

1513.  West, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 74. Your Grace was in the right and he in the wronge.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. (1900), 186. Thinking that he himselfe had bine in the wronge.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 86. You are i’ the wrong To speake before your time.

1700.  T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., Wks. 1720, III. 91. I am in the wrong, I own it.

1795.  Hutton, Hist. Birmingham (ed. 3), 223. The authors I have seen are all in the wrong.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 266. He had now put himself in the wrong.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xi. I quarrelled with her last night. I was quite in the wrong.

1895.  Cornh. Mag., Oct., 380. It puts Lord Tennyson so brutally in the wrong.

  † c.  To give the wrong to, to regard as being in the wrong. Obs.^–1

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 558. They shall gyue the wronge and blame to the Troians, And to vs the loose.

  II.  9. A wrongful, unjust or unfair action; a violation or infringement of one’s rights; an injury received or inflicted; a mischief. a. With any, no, that, this, etc.

1067–77.  Ags. Laws (Liebermann), I. 486/1. Ic nelle ʓeþolian, þæt ænig man eow æniʓ wrang beode.

c. 1290.  Beket, 230, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 113. Þar-of nolde he þolien no wrong.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 1363 (Kölbing). Ȝif y may atake þis wrong, He worþ to drawe & to hong.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1008. Þer-with mene I fynally þe peyne … Fully to slen and euery wrong redresse.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 90. That sege wald sit with none wrang, Of berne that wes borne.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, ix. (Arb.), 19. That he myght auenge this ouer grete wronge.

1502.  Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. li. (1893), 239. If any wronge be layde vnto hym.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxii. She resolved to spende all her yeares … in bewayling the wrong, and yet praying for the wrong-dooer.

1611.  Bible, Ecclus. x. 6. Beare not hatred to thy neighbour for euery wrong.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 300. Thou thy self with scorne … wouldst resent the offer’d wrong.

1715.  Pope, Iliad, II. 300. Durst he, as he ought, resent that wrong, This mighty tyrant were no tyrant long.

1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 25. All shall give account of ev’ry wrong, Who dare dishonour or defile the tongue!

1795–6.  [see WRONG-DOER 1].

1859.  Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 36. That each had suffer’d some exceeding wrong.

1862.  Shirley (J. Skelton), Nugæ Crit., x. 444. The wrong indeed was redressed, as far as redress was possible.

  b.  With a and pl.

  α.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6447. Quar thoru in right þai suld be gett, In smale wranges þat þar war.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 5541. Alle þas þat has tholed here Falshedes and wrangs.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11616. God, þat … wrangis in his wrathe writhis to ground.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xc. 70. Quhen thow art ald, and ma na wrangis wyrke.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 302. Quha war woundet or had gottin vtheris wrangis.

1786.  Burns, Author’s Cry & Prayer, xii. Then echo thro’ Saint Stephen’s wa’s Auld Scotland’s wrangs.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxvii. We are for righting our ain wrangs.

  β.  1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 11154. God … late hem neuer here soules lese For no wronges þat þey chese!

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 19. As cloþers … Þat Conterfeteþ disseites and Conspiret wronges.

1422–.  [see REDRESS v.¹ 11].

c. 1450.  Myrr. our Ladye, II. 145. My sowlle suffereth pacyently wronges and contraryous thinges.

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, II. 867. May such a wrong passe from a father’s mouth?

1612, etc.  [see REDRESSER].

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 740. Trees bent their Heads to hear him sing his Wrongs.

1794–6.  Coleridge, Relig. Musings, 306. The innumerable multitude of wrongs By man on man inflicted.

1811.  W. R. Spencer, Poems, 11. Thy wrongs his guilty soul shall sting.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iv. § 4. 191. A wrong of brother against brother was also a wrong against the general body of the gild.

  c.  Law. An invasion of right, to the damage, harm, or prejudice of another or others; a violation of law or statute; a tort or trespass.

1386.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 225/1. The folk of the Mercerye of London [compleynen] … of many wronges subtiles, and also open oppressions.

c. 1400.  Brut, I. 265. He was at þe parlement at Wynchestre forto haue amendede þe wronges and trespasses þat were done amongus þe peple.

14[?].  in Acts Parlt. Scotl., I. (1844), 337/2. Þe quhilk wrang was amuffyt betuen þaim in þe lande.

1518.  in Leadam, Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 128. They came to make their humble peticion … and sewed their grevys and wronges afforseid.

1588.  Jas. VI., in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 419/2. A puir man that dar nocht seik redres of this wrang be the ordinar course of iustice. Ibid. (1617), in Halliwell, Lett. Kings Eng. (1846), II. 143. Every wrong must be judged by the first violent and wrongous ground whereupon it proceeds.

1671.  F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 259. The parties … endeavouring such breaches of Priviledge, should not take advantage … of their own wrongs or tortious doings.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. 2. Wrongs are divisible into two sorts or species; private wrongs, and public wrongs.

1770.  Cases temp. Hardwicke, 35. The declarations must fall likewise as grafted on a wrong.

1838.  W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 498. Where there is reparation due on account of wrongs suffered through gross carelessness.

1888.  Pollock, in Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 454. Civil wrongs … for which there is a remedy by action in courts of common law jurisdiction. Ibid., 454/2. An actionable wrong.

  d.  In the phr. to do the (…) wrong (to or unto a person, or with dative).

c. 1330.  Spec. Gy de Warw., 602. Þenk … Off þe wrong and þe vilte, Þat men to Iesu Crist dede.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 666. Þe wrange þat to myn god is done.

a. 1400.  Pauline Ep. (Powell), 2 Cor. vii. 12. Not for hym þat has don þe wrong, nor for hym þat is suffryd.

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & Fly, 4. The wrong that I have done the flies here among.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. vii. The great wrong & iniurie that was done vnto him.

1643.  Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 663. Only the creditor can remit the debt, and he the offence to whom we have done the wrong.

1671.  Acts Privy Council Scotl., III. 345. She was the person who did the wrong.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, ix. The Earl deeply resented the wrong done to himself.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xxviii. In spite of the wrong he had done and the wrong he meant to do him.

  e.  Similarly with a, any, etc., or pl.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xx. 13. Frend, I do thee no wronge [1388 noon wrong].

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 845. That ye causelees … han doon grete Iniuries and wronges to me.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (Prose), vii. 13. Yef man dos yu ani wrang.

1479.  Paston Lett., III. 267. Th’ enjuryes and wrongys done … to John Paston.

1560.  Bible (Genev.), 2 Macc. iii. 12. That it were altogether vnpossible to do this wrong to them.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. vii. 80. As thou lou’st me, do him not that wrong.

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. III.), 28. I do not think I shall do you any wrong to send you a better companion.

1676.  in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 30. The wrongs Lord Marshall doth him, and all the younger children.

1813.  Nat. Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.), 29 July, 1/3. The wrongs done us by the British government.

1855.  Tennyson, Maud, I. X. iv. I might persuade myself then She would not do herself this great wrong.

1861.  Mill, Utilit. (1863), 73. In each case the supposition implies two things—a wrong done, and some assignable person who is wronged.

  † 10.  An incorrect or improper procedure. Obs.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., VIII. 53. The figtre now teneye [L. inoculare] hit is no wronge In weet lond. Ibid., X. 3. The same ek is no wronge Rather to do.

  † 11.  A physical or material injury, hurt or damage. (Cf. 6.) Obs.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxvii. (Tollem. MS.). By þe leues þe spray is defendid … aȝens colde and hete, and aȝens all wronges of frostes and snowe.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 339. Yf me ferne hit wel … That in the tre the morter do no wronge.

  † 12.  Something obtained or held wrongfully. rare.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 133. Þerfore, restoryth ȝoure wrongys, & caste out þe wose of false coueytise! Ibid., 136. Ȝoure nede þanne excusyth ȝou nouȝt fro dedly synne, but ȝe ȝerne ȝelde to hem ȝoure dette & ȝoure wrong!

  III.  13. Comb. (chiefly objective), as wrong-repressing, righting; wrong-redresser, -righter; also wrong-caused, incensed, -vexed; wrong-proof adj.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Ps. XXXV. i. Speake thou for me against wrong speaking foes. Ibid. (a. 1586), Arcadia, I. ii. Striving … which coulde … recount their wrong-caused sorow.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., II. i. 51. These swelling wrong incensed Peeres.

1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. lxxxi. Wrong-worker Riot.

1608.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, 210. Long wrong-vext, in a not-Need-less Cause.

a. 1816.  Bentham, Offic. Apt. Maximized, Introd. View (1830), 17. A penal, or say a wrong-repressing code.

1831.  Wordsw., Highland Hut, 12. Some gentle heart wrong-proof, Meek, patient, kind.

1849.  Lytton, K. Arthur, V. lxxxiii. The great Wrong-Redresser.

1869.  Kingsley, in Life & Lett. (1877), II. 296. The most unexpected forms of actual wrong-saying and doing.

1889.  J. K. Stephen, Lapsus Calami (1891), 51. A nursery of wrong-righters.